Gun rest



D. H. ADAMS June 29; 1965 GUN; RESP Filed 2*, 1964 FIG. 3

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United States Patent "ice 3,191,826 GUN REST Dolphus Herman Adams, Billy Lee Drive 115, Price, Tex. Filed July 2, 1964, Ser. No. 380,000 7 Claims. (Cl. 224-) This invention relates to a gun rest, and more particularly to a support for a gun to be used by a handicapped person, such as a person having only one arm.

One-armed and other handicapped persons are prevented from enjoying rifle sports such as hunting, skeet shooting, and rifle marksmanship, because of their inability to position and hold a rifle accurately on target.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a gun rest, or rifle support, which will enable a handicapped person to properly support and maintain a rifle in position for accurate firing so that he will be able to participate in and enjoy rifle sports.

It is another object of the invention to provide a gun rest, for a one-armed person, which is usable with either the left' or right arm, and also usable by non-handicapped individuals, who are poor shots, to improve the accuracy of their markmanship.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a gun rest, of the above described characteristics, which is usable in both a standing and seated position of the marksman.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a gun rest, of the above described characteristics, which is assembled from relatively few parts to form a compact and lightweight assembly, easy and inexpensive to fabricate, easy to use, and which, during use, may be worn for long periods without tiring the wearer.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity'in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gun rest according to the invention worn by a handicapped person and supporting a gun in position for firing;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the gun rest alone;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from line 33 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken from line 4'4 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from line 55 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown as comprising a gun rest 10 having a horizontally disposed, rigid member 12, a vertically inclined bracer 20, a pair of straps 30 and 32 for securing the member 12 to the waist of a marksman, and a strap 40 fastenable about the shoulders and back of the marksman, for positioning and supporting the bracer at an upper portion spaced from the waist.

The horizontal element, or waist member, 12 is preferably formed of metal, or other strong rigid material, 1

such as aluminum, brass or plastic and, for extreme lightweight, magnesium. Desirably, the member is arcuate in shape to fit the contour of the human waist and subtends a chord of approximately 10 inches. Member 12 is preferably tubular and provided with a slot 14 at each end. A pin 16, whose ends are press fitted in openings in the wall of tube 12, extends across each slot 14 diametrically of the tube.

The belt portion 30 may conveniently be of any flexible material, such as webbed nylon, canvas, or the like, and has a fastening buckle 34 at one end and a loop 36 at the other for retaining the eye of a conventional springtype, snap fastener 38. The fastener 38 embodies a hook 37 closed by a spring 39 which is depressible to permit entry of pin 16 into hook 37 for latching or unlatching strap 30 to waist member 12. The other belt portion 32 is provided with a similar snap fastener 38 for releasable engagement withthe pin 16 at the other end of the Waist member 12. Belt 32 is provided with a plurality apertures 33 in its free end for fastening to the buckle at an adjusted position wherein parts 30, 12 and 32 comfortably clamp the waist of the wearer.

The bracer 20 comprises a pair of longitudinal members 22 and 24 formed of the same or similar rigid mate'- rial as used in the waist member 12. The members are relatively adjustable lengthwise. Desirably, both members may be tubes, one, 24, telescoping within the other, 22. The tube 22' is welded, soldered, glued, or otherwise firmly secured at its lower end to the center of member 12. The bracer tube 22 is inclined upwardly and outwardly at approximately 30 to the vertical when the waist member is horizontally disposed about the waist of the marksman. The upper tube 24 is provided at its upper end with a rigid yoke, or seat, 26 integrally united to the member 24. The yoke 26 is inclined inwardly of the vertical toward the marksman at about for most appropriate reception of the rifle barrel, or stock.

For adjustment of the length of the bracer, each tube 22, 24 is provided with a longitudinal slot 28 and 29 respectively, in register with each other. A pin 50 is secured diametrically across the inner tube 24 held at its ends in openings in the wall thereof. Since the pin has a length not exceeding the external diameter of tube 24, the latter is free to slide in tube 22. A short rod 52 is pivotally mounted on pin 50 and has a threaded free end which extends through the slots 28 and 29 and protrudes outwardly of the bracer through the opening of a curved washer 54. A wing nut 56 is threaded on the free end of rod 52 outside the washer. 7

It will be apparent that loosening of the Wing nut 56 enables relative longitudinal movement of tubes 22 and 24 to adjust the length of the bracer and that these parts are fixed. in any adjustable position by retightening the wing nut 56 to clamp the parts together. The rod 52 provides a convenient handle for relative adjustment of tubes 22 and 24.,

If the wing nut 56 and washer 54 are entirely removed from rod 52, the latter is free to pivot through slots 28 and 29 and to lie within the inner tube, as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 4, thus permitting the telescoping tubes to be assembled or entirely separated with sliding motion. Separation of the tubes provides a more compact package for storage, shipment, and the like. Desirably, the tube 22 may be approximately 20 inches in length with about a 12 inch long slot 28. The internal tube including the yoke 26 is slightly shorter, say about 19 inches. Accordingly, the bracer may be compressed to an overall length of slightly more than 20 inches.

The shoulder strap 40 may be formed of the same material as thewaist belt portions 30 and 32, and is provided with a similar buckle 34' at one end and similar apertures 33' at the other end. Belt is looped at 42 and releasably retained in such looped condition by a slideable sleeve 44. The two ends of the belt may be moved relative to sleeve 44 to adjust the position of loop 42.

Patented June 29, 1965 A snap fastener 38', similar to the described conventional fasteners 38 on the waist belt, is retained by loop 42. A bracket 46 is welded, brazed, soldered, or otherwise affixed to the bracer preferably near the upper end of the outer tube 22, and this bracket is provided with an opening pivotally engaged by a ring 48. The snap fastener 38' is quickly assembled, or disassembled, from the ring 48 on the bracer to attach, or release, the shoulder strap 40.

In use of the described gun rest, reference being made particularly to FIG. 1, the marksman, having attached the waist and shoulder straps to members 12 and 22, respectively, buckles these straps comfortably about his waist and shoulders with the rigid waist member 12 positioned slightly to one side or the other of the center of his body, although it may be placed directly in the center of the body if so desired. The bracer 19 is then adjusted in length to support a rifle muzzle at the desired height for shooting by loosening the wing nut 56, extending the tube 24 with respect to tube 22, and refastening the wing nut. The bracer then extends at an inclination in fixed relation to the body of the marksman being integrally secured at its bottom to the rigid member 12 which is in turn fastened by the belt portions 30 and 32 in a fixed position. Thefastened strap 40 prevents the bracer from tilting away from the marksman under the weight of the rifle. When a rifle is then positioned as shown in FIG. 1 with the barrel or stock seated in the yoke 26 and the butt of the rifle resting against the shoulder inside the arm, the handicapped marksman has free. use of his single hand to trigger the shot when the rifle is properly aligned with a sighted target.

It is apparent that the gun rest will hold the rifle in a fixed position of sighting so long as the marksman holds his body still. Angular realignment of the rifle to adjust the sight to the target may be accomplished by turning movements of the waist, or the shoulders, of the marksman, or both. A moving target, such as a skeet, may be followed by turning the whole body, including the feet if desired, to maintain the target in the rifle sight.

Targets of different elevation may be accommodated by raising, or lowering, the bracer tube 24 in the tube 22. When the tube 24 is completely nested in tube 22, the supported rifle will be disposed inapproximately horizontal alignment for shooting low targets near the horizon. The marksman may use the gun rest to shoot from a seated, as well as from a standing position.

The described gun rest is suitable for use by either right or left handed, handicapped persons, and even for use by persons with both arms who are unable to maintain the rifle sufliciently steady for accurate marksmanship, the rigid waist member 12 and bracer 20 and the supporting straps providing a very stable support to supplement their hold of the rifle by both hands.

It should be apparent, from the above description, that parts of the gun rest may be suitably changed in material, shape, size and dimension while still meeting the objectives of the invention. Members 12, 22 and 24 need not necessarily be tubes, since rods, channels, and other shapes may be utilized. Similarly, the specific structures described for adjustment of the bracer parts, and for rapid attachment and separation of the straps 30, 32 and 40 may he obviously changed without departing from the invention. The waist member 12 may be shortened and even eliminated so long as the bracer is rigidly clamped to the marksmans body.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shown or described, it is obvious thatmany modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A gun rest comprising a waist member, a bracer fixed at its lower end to said waist member, said bracer including a pair of relatively adjustable longitudinal members the upper of which terminates in a seat for supporting the barrel portion of a gun, means for releasably securing said waist member to the waist of a marksman, and means releasably fastenable about the shoulders and back of a marksman for supporting the seat of said bracer in a fixed position.

2. A gun rest according to claim 1 wherein said waist member is arcuate and formed of a rigid material.

3. A gun rest according to claim 1 wherein said means for releasably securing the waist member comprises a pair of flexible straps each secured to the Waist-member by a snap fastener.

4. A gun rest according to claim 1 wherein said means for supporting the bracer seat comprises a belt having buckle fastener means, and a snap fastener securing said belt to said bracer.

5. A gun rest according to claim 1 wherein said seat or" the bracer comprises a yoke aflixed to the upper, end of the upper member.

6. A gun rest according to claim 1 wherein said bracer comprises a pair of tubes one of which telescopically receives the other for relative sliding movement.

7. A gun rest according to claim 6 wherein said telescopic tubes are each provided with a longitudinal slot which registers with each other, a threaded member pivotally secured to the inner tube and extending through said registering slots, and a wing nut threaded on the outer end of said threaded member for releasably clamping said tubes in an adjusted longitudinal relation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/ 15 Atkinson 2245.l

1/51 Goss 224-56 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A GUN REST COMPRISING A WAIST MEMBER, A BRACER FIXED AT ITS LOWER END TO SAID WAIST MEMBER, SAID BRACER INCLUDING A PAIR OF RELATIVELY ADJUSTABLE LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS THE UPPER OF WHICH TERMINATES IN A SEAT FOR SUPPORTING THE BARREL PORTION OF A GUN, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID WAIST MEMBER TO THE WAIST OF A MARKSMAN, AND MEANS RELEASABLY FASTENABLE ABOUT THE SHOULDERS AND BACK OF A MARKMAN FOR SUPPORTING THE SEAT OF SAID BARREL IN A FIXED POSITION. 